Overview

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

  A common hormonal disorder affecting women characterized by multiple small cysts in the ovary (representing arrested follicular development), oligomenorrhea, and excess androgen production from the ovaries (+/-from the adrenals)
• Causes of PCOS

  • Exact mechanisms remain unexplained
  • PCOS is associated w/ hyperinsulinemia & insulin resistance (thus ↑ frequency of T2DM), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, & increased cardiovascular diseases
• Presentation of PCOS

  • Usually begins shortly after menarche
  • Amenorrhea/oligomenorrhea
  • Hirsutism (excess hair growth in woman in a male pattern "androgen dependent")
  • Acne
  • Sometimes associated with marked obesity
  • May present with primary or secondary infertility
  • Mild virilization in severe cases (obvious signs of virilization ex: clitoromegaly, recent onset frontal balding, deep voice, & loss of female body shape usually indicate a cause other than PCOS)